Sports agency expands

Wasserman acquires U.K. firm Reel Enterprise

Sports entertainment agency Wasserman Media Group is expanding its media rights biz in Europe through the acquisition of U.K. firm Reel Enterprise.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Reel, formed 13 years ago by David Kogan and Sara Munds, has handled rights negotiations for media clients like the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Virgin Media, British Telecom in the U.K., Teuve in Spain and Rainbow Media Holdings in the U.S., as well as sports orgs Premier League, Scottish Premier League, Premier Rugby, the NFL in the U.K. and the Intl Olympic Committee in Europe.

Reel’s New York office has also worked with Major League Soccer, Chivas de Guadalajara and the Monterrey Rayados football clubs in Mexico.

Kogan and Munds will join WMG as principals of the global media rights practice and report to Casey Wasserman, WMG’s chairman and CEO. They will continue to be based in London.

They will work closely with WMG’s consulting group, headed by principal Malcolm Turner, who oversees the stateside properties and media business. That group recently negotiated media rights deals for the Big 12, Big Ten, L.A. Lakers and Capital One Bowl.

Reel Enterprises, including New York-based Katie Boes, will also join Los Angeles-based WMG and report to Kogan and Munds.

“David and Sara have developed an unparalleled global rights business with the most respected and accomplished businesses in the sector,” Wasserman said. “By integrating Reel into the Wasserman platform, we are making a significant step in our efforts to offer rights and media representation in the U.K., and simultaneously continue to expand our business presence in Europe.”

The company’s clients include the New York Jets, the New York Giants, T-Mobile, American Express and Northern Trust.